President's Message

John Taylor is our fabulous UtSTA President. Click here to read his message regarding much-needed changes and how you can help improve science in Utah.

Save the Date!

This year our annual science conference will be on Feb 9th at the Provo Marriot Convention Center. You do NOT want to miss this great opportunity to network with educators from around the state, learn from veterns and gain valuable teaching tools you can use in your classroom. Registration information can be found by clicking here.

NOW is a great time to approach your principal and ask if you and fellow science teachers can get your registration and sub costs covered by your principal or district.

2018 UtSTA Conference Presenters Needed

Deadline Oct 13th

We want you to share your amazing ideas and present at our upcoming conference. We are accepting applications for presenters in all science subjects in grades K-12. If you would like to present a session at the conference or know of a teacher that would be awesome, please fill out or forward the application. Submissions are due by Oct 13th. This year, each presenter (up to 2 per session) will receive 1/2 off conference registration. Click here to apply.

Nominate an Outstanding Teacher

for a UtSTA Teacher Award

Deadline Oct 31st

Do you know a great teacher or school science department that is deserving of recognition? Every year the USTA gives deserving teachers awards at our annual Awards Banquet. Please nominate deserving teachers in your area (you can even nominate yourself).

The awards are for Outstanding: Elementary Teacher, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, Earth Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Rookie Middle School, Rookie High School, Science Department, Higher Education.

Click here to nominate yourself or a colleague.

Region Boundary Realignment Up for Vote

Deadline Sep 30th

The board is asking for your vote on a newly proposed UtSTA region map. The proposal includes the addition of two new regions and a boundary realignment. This change will allow better representation and will be in alignment with local service centers.

Please click here to view and vote on the proposed changes. Voting ends Sep 30th so please vote today.

UtSTA Volunteers Needed

USTA Conference in February! Please fill out this form if you would like to volunteer to help with this conference. We welcome all teachers to become more involved with Utah Science. USTA Conference Volunteer Form

UtSTA Family Days

Join us at the SPIRAL JETTY

Saturday, September 23rd 10am–1pm

Attendance is FREE
Google Directions are available at: http://tinyurl.com/spiraljetty

The Utah Science Teachers Association has partnered with Great Salt Lake Institute for 6th Annual USTA Day at Great Salt Lake. This year’s event is a wonderful opportunity to come experience the North Arm of Great Salt Lake and the Spiral Jetty (a wonderful art installation along Great Salt Lake’s coast). There will be activities for teachers and their families including making Winogradsky Columns, information on local wildlife, an investigation of “Phenomena of Great Salt Lake geology”, collecting gypsum crystals, Brine Shrimp population model lesson, the DrumBus, and MORE!!!

Come with water, snacks, and chairs (if you want to relax). Also plan ahead for travel times and bathroom stops (more information about the jetty can be found

at https://www.diaart.org/visit/visit/robert-smithson-spiral-jetty).

Questions about the event? Contact:

Jaimi Butler at jbutler@westminstercollege.edu

Ricky Scott at richard.scott@schools.utah.gov

Watch your email and check our website for the dates and times of additional Family Days activities that are currently in the planning stages.

Professional Development

PD SURVEY

We would love to create professional development opportunities that you need. Please fill out the following form and let us know how we can best help you with PD. Teacher PD Survey

6-8 UEN Teacher Content Courses

Get USBE credit and learn the new 6-8 content you will need to teach if you are a 6-8 teacher this year. Click the link above and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page.

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The Natural History Museum has numerous FREE workshops. Click the logo for more information.

Freebies

A Year's Worth of Life Science Labs

Teacher Resources

6-8 Need SEEd Standards Help

https://www.seedstorylines.org/

https://www.seedutah.org/

Open Education Resource Science Textbooks

Did you know that a textbook has been creating specifically for your grade or subject and align with Utah Science Standards? OER books are available for FREE in PDF form, online at cK-12, and available for print at a nominal cost. School PO's can now be used to order hard copies of the textbook. These books also make great workbooks for students. Most all books have extra large margins for students to annotate, write notes and ask questions right in the book.

6th Grade Science is also now available in Portuguese and French!

Click here for beautifully formatted PDF versions

Click here for the online cK-12 versions

Click here to order printed copies

High School Teacher Facebook Page

Join this page specific to networking for 9-12 Utah science teachers.

Kits Teachers can Check Out to Use in their Classrooms

The following locations have kits available to borrow and use in your classroom. This a great community resource not many teachers know about.

Weber State CSME Kits

Utah State Extension 4-H Kits (also available to classroom teachers)

University of Utah Engineering

BYU Bioboxes

Natural History Museum Teaching Toolboxes

Southeast Education Service Center Toolboxes

Utah Geological Survey Teaching Kits

Hogle Zoo Teaching Kits

Red Butte Gardens Botany Bins

Skype a Scientist

This program matches scientists with classrooms worldwide. Available for any level along the K–12 spectrum, a typical Q & A–style video chat lasts between 30 to 60 minutes and covers topics in the scientist’s area of expertise and what it’s like to be a scientist. The program aims for students to have positive experiences with scientists and form a personal connection with someone working in a scientific field. More than 500 scientists are ready to chat, and teachers can choose the type of scientist who best fits their classroom. Visit the website to learn more and sign up.

Community Activites

BYU Bean Museum Nature Experienceships

Spend time with an expert for only $10. Insects, Birds, Wild Edibles and a Date Night.

Ages 12 and up. Click here for more information and to register.

Weber State University Physics Open House

Oct 5, 2017 6-9 PM

1415 Edvalson St. Dept 2508 Ogden, UT

The physics departments at Weber STate invites you to join them for demos, presentations, and planetarium shows. New this year, they will showcase the new physics facilities in the Tracy Hall Science Center.

Event is FREE and open to the public. Activities for all ages.

Grants

STEM Action Center Grants

The STEM Action Center is providing classroom grants (due Sep 29th) and STEM CoCompetitionrants (due by Sep 8th). Go to stem.utah.gov to apply and to get additional information on upoming grants and activities.

Next Month's Issue

UtSTA sends a monthly newsletter. Be sure to watch your email and bookmark our website at http://utsta.org/